WOTW: Botanica Chenin Blanc 2014

Author: Michael Bampfield-Duggan

Updated: 09:00 22-03-2017

Wine: Botanica Chenin Blanc 2014

Wine of Origin: Citrusdal

Winemaker: Ginny Povall

Background: : Chenin Blanc, the versatile white wine variety, which hails from the Anjou region in the Loire Valley in France, produces a range of styles from bone dry through to rich and sweet. Good examples include unwooded, dry to off dry wines as well as some excellent sparkling wines. Chenin Blanc is also used to make our highly successful and competitive table brandies .This versatility has allowed it to become the biggest grape variety planted in the Cape taking 18% of vineyard area, far more than its home in France! Sometimes referred to in South Africa as steen , the emphasis today is on elevating increased quality in the production of these wines. The Chenin Blanc Association was formed in 1999 with its aim to ensure that our local Chenin Blanc takes its rightful place with other great white wines of the world. Since then we have seen prominent Chenin Blanc producers, giving meticulous attention to their vineyards along with innovative vinification, resulting in making top quality Chenin Blanc wines which can easily rival any other classic varietal. Botanica is the wine brand created by American owner, Ginny Povall, who controls all her wine activities on her property in the Devon Valley, outside Stellenbosch, despite the grapes coming from far and wide! The grapes for this Chenin Blanc are sourced from bush vine vineyards high up in the mountains close to Citrusdal. Due to the lack of water these vineyards are dry farmed which results in a small production of approximately 1 ton per hectare from the 50 plus year old bush vines! With its beautiful label of a botanical collage created by artist Mary Delany in the late 1700’s (Ginny was fortunate enough to obtain a license to use a few of Delany’s collages for her wines) 50% of the wine was fermented in 4th fill 400 litre French oak barrels and left on the lees for a further 9 months. Result: The result is an off dry style wine with gorgeous subtle tropical fruit aromas with hints of fresh apricot which leads you to a rich silky palate offering intense fruit concentration and a lovely grip of fresh acidity. The wine was awarded 5 stars in the 2017 South African Platter Guide!